By Harrison Baskind LAST week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was set to be the biggest moment of Ben Shalom’s career. With arguably the fight of the year topping the bill, Shalom had managed to dominate the undercard with his fighters. Not only that, but he was also working with fellow promoting rivals Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren, despite previous struggles to establish a working relationship with them.
What could possibly go wrong? It all started during the weigh-in between Chris Eubank Jr. and Kamil Szeremeta when Ben Shalom and Frank Warren appeared to have an altercation. Ironically, similar events took place between Shalom and his other rival, Eddie Hearn, on the Riyadh Season Wembley Edition card three weeks earlier.
Nevertheless, Shalom is accustomed to this; he has emphasised many times that his priority is the fighters, not any kind of friendly relationship with his foes. The significant damage came on fight night. Firstly, internet sensation Ben Whittaker was expected to put on a statement win against Liam Cameron.
However, the fight ended unexpectedly after a bizarre conclusion to the fifth round, with both fighters going over the top rope, resulting in Whittaker sustaining an apparent ankle injury and being unable to continue. The fight was controversially ruled a technical decision split draw, leaving Whittaker’s opponent, Cameron, feeling aggrieved as he was convinced he had won. Whittaker’s performance not only raised questions, but the way the fight ended has.